I’m a beauty expert, 45, and this make-up mistake gives away your age – my Gen Z daughter says it’s for ‘old ladies’
YOU may have plucked your eyebrows so thin in the Nineties that they still haven’t grown back.
But this isn’t the foregone beauty trend that’s giving your age away, say TikTokers.
Despite reclaiming many Nineties and Noughties styles, the youth of today have ditched a make-up step that was an absolute necessity 20 years ago.
There are over 90 million Gen Z v Millennial posts on TikTok.
Among the hot topics of debate are jean style, sock length and how to tuck your shirt into your trousers.
But now, teens are fighting over whether EYE-SHADOW is for “old ladies”.
Among younger TikTok users, the general consensus is that the humble smokey eye is a sure fire way to give your age away.
One 45-year-old mum took to the video sharing platform to reveal what her pre-teen had contributed to the discourse.
Jennifer Latch is an expert in all things beauty and ageing gracefully – with her social media motto being: “Ageing is cool.”
Mum-of-three Jennifer’s youngest daughter, 12, told her that eye-shadow is a “Gen X and Millennial thing”.
“AKA an old lady thing,” she said to the camera.
“Is that true?”
The video, which has since gone viral on TikTok, sparked a fresh debate in the comments section.
“My 13-year-old son told me to stop wearing eye-shadow so I think it is [an old lady thing],” mum Jazmina Pashima commented.
“I have to agree with her,” another social media user said. “Eye-shadow makes people look way older, especially if it’s intense.”
“I’m an older gen Z and this is true,” a third quipped. “Most girls only wear it for special occasions now.”
Fashion editor reveals the 90s trends that should stay in the past
NINETIES and noughties trends especially have become a hit with Gen Z - most likely because they didn’t wear them the first time round. Here, Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale gives the rundown of some of the trends that have made a comeback that we wish did not.
Disc belts
“A hit with celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Blake Lively, the belt itself did nothing that a belt should actually do – it was a mere fashion statement, not a piece to actually hold anything up.
“And it seems it’s not just me who is enraged by its return, with many taking to TikTok to give their views, saying: ‘Oh no not the disc belt! I don’t think I have the energy for it a 2nd time around’ – I feel you.”
Jelly shoes
“After not being seen on shelves for decades, they’ve made a reappearance and this time they’re not just for kids.
“Coming in a range of colourful patterns, you can get them all over the high street in either flat or heeled versions.
“Not only will you look very childish wearing such shoes, but people will also need to learn that they aren’t the comfiest – blister plasters will come in handy.”
Pedal pushers
“The cropped knee-grazing trouser were all the rage in the 1990s and 2000s, but this time the model fash pack are all over them – with both Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski wearing them out recently.
“The original IT girls, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot helped make the trousers – also called Capri pants – look effortlessly cool and glam.
“Somehow this time round they don’t seem to be having that same effect.”
However, some TikTokers – even older Gen Z ones – were keen to defend eye-shadow and assured their Millennial peers that it’s not an “old lady thing”.
“I wear it most days,” one penned.
“I’m an elder Gen Z born in 1997 and I’m an eye-shadow fiend and hate the clean look,” another said.
“As a Gen Z, trends come and go with the wind,” a third assured.
Eye-shadow makes people look way older, especially if it’s intense
Gen Z beauty buffs
“Minimalistic and natural looks have been in for a while, but it’ll change soon enough.
“Just wear what you like, confidence rocks anything.”
Inspired by the grunge music scene, dark and smoky eyes were a popular make-up choice in the Nineties.
Black and dark grey shades were commonly used to create a smudged, imperfect look, with matte finishes adding to the striking look.
Angelina Jolie was a fan of the grunge shadow stretching up to her eyebrows, with celebs like Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow preferring a blue look.
Frosted eyeshadows in pastel shades – especially white, silver, and light blue – also had a moment in the Nineties, paired with a matching frosty lip.
Fast forward to the Noughties, vivid colours like neon greens, pinks, blues, and purples were popular thanks to the rise of pop stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Glittery, metallic and shimmery eye-shadows became common place for evening looks, too.
But according to TikTokers, these trends are so out.
Instead, a simple dusting of bronzer is all you need to have trendy eyelids, they claim.